FAB GUIDE | Legalities of getting married in Austria

It has been quite some time since we posted any practical information on Austria and today, we are delighted to welcome both Cat from Wild Connections Photography and Irene from High Emotion Weddingsto the blog. Today, they are going to be sharing some tips and insights into getting married in Austria, particularly around the legalities.

Whether you dream of getting married in “The Imperial City” of Vienna, a charming venue in the Austrian Alps or Mozart’s city, Salzburg, Austria has it all. Vienna alone offers hundreds of venues, out of which 155 are also authorised civil ceremony locations. Should you want a small celebration and a romantic art-and-culture getaway, an intimate dinner in a traditional winery up the hill, or a huge party in one of the imperial castles in the city centre, with friends flying in from all over the world, Vienna offers endless possibilities for the day of your dreams.

You do not need to be resident in Austria to get married here, but there is quite a large amount of documentation that is required. Because of this, it is recommended to hire a local wedding planner like High Emotion Weddings who can assist you with the documentation and liase with the local standesamt on your behalf.

RELIGIOUS CEREMONIES

Religious ceremonies are not legally recognised by themselves. A civil ceremony is necessary in order to get married in a church, and then have your union recognised in your own country.

CIVIL CEREMONIES

In Austria, a legally binding marriage ceremony can only be performed by the local registry office, the STANDESAMT. This civil ceremony (standesamtliche trauung) requires you both to attend along with 2 witnesses, where you are asked in turn if you wish to be married, for which you simply answer “yes” (“Ja” in German). The ceremony itself takes around 20-30 minutes and is quite matter-of-fact. Most couples then select to have a church blessing (kirchliche trauung) or a free ceremony (freie trauung) to celebrate their marriage and personalise it to them and their beliefs.

DOCUMENTATION FOR CIVIL CEREMONIES

Standesamtliche Trauung – The Legal Part

To get married in Austria, you must present the standesamt with proof of your eligibility to marry and proof of no impediment. You must submit these documents to the local standesamt no earlier than six months before your requested wedding date, who will then issue you with a certificate of marriageability, which is valid for 6 months. If you are not resident in Austria, they must be submitted via the Standesamt in charge of the First District of Vienna (Standesamt Wien-Innere Stadt, Schlesingerplatz 4, A-1082 Vienna). Approval usually takes around 2 weeks, but can take up to 6 weeks in larger cities.

It is best to have a wedding planner as they can advise you on the particulars of your marital status and citizenship. For example, for couples from the UK, the following documents are required, in original or certified copies, which must be accompanied by a translated copy in German from an Austrian sword and certified translator. For some documents, an apostile may also be required.

✈ Passport or certified copy of passport

✈ Full UK birth certificate which includes the names of both parents

✈ Certificate of No Impediment together with an apostille and a translation

✈ Proof of residency (e.g. drivers license with address)

✈ Photocopies of the picture page of the passports for your two witnesses, listing their name, address and occupation.

✈ If you are divorced – a decree absolute & previous marriage certificates

✈ If you have changed your name – deed poll

✈ When registering your intent to marry at the standesamt, they will ask what name you will take after the marriage, so it’s a good idea to think about this before the wedding.

Depending on your marital status and other criteria, you may be required to provide additional documents. If your state is not a member of the Hague convention, you will need to provide an equivalent notarisation to the apostille. The documents have to be shipped to your local contact person then be translated by an Austrian authorised judiciary translator into German, and then taken to the registry office to complete registration. If you don’t understand enough German, an interpreter will need to be booked for the ceremony.

ESTIMATED COSTS FOR A CIVIL WEDDING IN VIENNA

Ceremony fee for a wedding at the registry office: 200 €

Ceremony fee for a wedding in one of the 155 approved locations: 600 € + the room rent at the venue, which can start at 250 €

Document translations: 280 € (for the basic set of documents)

Interpreter: 150 €

For further information on the legal requirements for getting married in Austria please contact the Austrian Embassy in your country of residence:

Many thanks to both Cat and Irene for providing us with this much sought after information. If you are looking for a wedding planner or wedding photographer in Austria, be sure to check out their FAB profiles.

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Fly Away Bride is an online space dedicated to couples planning their dream destination wedding in Europe. Our aim is to provide information and inspiration that will help you plan your perfect wedding abroad.